Feed-water heater



(No Model.)

G. H. ROBINSON.

EEED WATER HEATER.

Pateited NOV. 3, 1885.

Wmssis.

N, PEYERS, Pnow-Umographer, wamingwn D. t;

@Ntra STATES CHARLES I-I. ROBINSON, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

FEED-WATER HEATER.

SPECFECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,488,1iated November 3, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HENRY ROB` INsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of St. Paul, in the county vof Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-Tater Heaters, ot' which the following is a specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a sectional ele'- Valion on the line x x ot' Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View on the line g/ y of Fig. l.

This invention relates to apparatus used to heat and purify the feed-water ofsteam-boilers, and particularly to that class ofsuch devices known as closed7 or pressure heaters; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter shown and described.

To illustrate my invention, Ihave shown in the drawings a wronghteiron or steel outer shell or jacket, A', having a wrought-iron or steel top, A2, and a cast'iron bottom, Af. lf preferred,the top and bottom A2 A3 may both be made of steel or wrought-iron or both of east-iron. The base A will be provided at its center with an opening, into which the exhaust-pipe B from the engine is secured by a packed coupling, a.

B is another pipe, connected into the opening in the base .A3,and running upward therefrom, and forming a continuation of the exhaust-pipe B. The base A3 also has a discharge opening or nozzle, C, to which the discharge-pipe will be attached for conveying the steam away from the jacket after it has performed its work. Inside the jacket A is a heater-shell, D', supported by legs b, the shell being less in length and diameter than the jacket, so that an annular space is left between the jacket and the sides of the shell, and a chamber, d, between the top A2 and the top of the shell,and a similar chamber, d, between the bottom A: and the bottom of the shell. Thus a steam space is left between the jacket and shell on all sides. Legs or supports b2 will be attached to the top of the shell D and projected upward and outward in con tact with the inside ofthe jacket A to support the shell D in the jacket and assist to keep it in its proper place, and in connection with the legs b hold the shell fixed in its proper place in thejacket, especially during transportation,when the heater is liable to be placed horizontally or in a reversed upright position.

E is a large internal flue connecting the ends of the shell D and forming a large Opening through it,and up through which the pipe Bzleads, as shown. The tlue E is larger than the pipe B2, so that an annular space is left between them. The pipe B2 is shown ending a short distance below the upper end ofthe shell D and flue E', but its length may be Varied to suit circumstances.

E2 E2 are a series of smaller tubes or titles connecting the heads of the shell Dand forming communications through them for the steam between the chambers d and d2. These lues E2 are arranged only on three sides of the large tlue E', leaving an open space, g, on one side unoccupied by lues.

F is the feed-pipe through which the water is fed to the shell D, and F2 is the deliverypipe through which the water is forced into the boiler. rI`he delivery-pipe F2 is suitably packed where it passes down through the head A2 and the top of the shell D, while the feedpipe F is arranged to pass down through a large tube or pipe, G, the latter in turn passing down through the head AL and the top of the shell D. rlhe tube G islarger than the pipe F, so that an annular space is left between them, as shown. The tube G is suitably packed where it passes through the head A2, and secured into the top of the shell D and made steam-tight in the ordinary manner, and the pipe F is suitably packed where it passes through the head of the tube G. By this arrangement of the tubes F and G only one opening is required through the head A2 and the top of the shell D to accommodate both, and also permits the feed-water to be supplied to the shell and the surface blowoff to be taken out through the same space, as hereinafter shown.

m is a small pipe leading from the upper end of the tube G, through which any scum or animal or vegetable matter rising to the top of the heater may be discharged. rlhe delivery-pipe I projects down into the shell for a short distance, so as to take the water'` from the shell some distance below the top, as it is more nearly free from impurities at this point, as hereinafter shown. The feedpipe F isalso arranged to project down into the water some distance, so as to deliver the water to the shell below the surface, and prevents the disturbance of the water in the upper part ofthe shell.

H is a large tube,open at the top and closed at the bottom, and supported in the open space g in the shell D by legs or supports a, the latter spreading outward and resting vagainst the shell D and tubes E and E in such a manner as to support the tube in the shell and hold it in its proper place in whatever position the heater may be placed. The lower end of the feed pipe F projects down into this tube H, and the lower end of the latter is perforated, as shown at t, to permit the water to freely circulate through it and also to permit the water to be drawn therefrom when the heater is to be emptied. The base A, it will be observed, is provided .with

` a leg, A4, cast in one piece therewith, by which the heater is supported on one side,the remaining sides being` supported by legs A5, bolted to the base. The ,shell D may be easily removed from the jacket A byremoving the bottom A3, and the tube G and pipes F and FZ.

I obtain many important advantages by this manner of constructing a heater, among oth-v ers, the following: By this arrangement all parts of the shell D is heating-surface, as it is entirely surrounded by the steam; hence thereis no loss by4 radiation. By carrying the tube B2 upward through the shell D, I save and impart tothe tube E', and through it to the water in the shell D, all the heat radiated from the tube B2. B y discharging the steam upward into the chamber cl it spreads outward and completely lls the chamber, and passes down the iiues E2 and between the flue E. and pipe B2, and also between the jacket A and shell D equally, thus heating all parts of the shell D' and its lues uniformly and to an evenvtemperature, thereby preventi ing unequal expansion and contraction. This is a very important feature of my invention, as any unequal expansion and contraction of the tubes and shell would result in the loosening of the joints and the ultimate destruction of the heater. By carrying the steam downward through the tlues E and P2 and around the shell D all the water of condensation is carried down with it and not permitted to accumulate upon or remain in contact with the lues or shell. On the contrary, where the flow of steam currents is upward, the water of condensation runs downward against the steam-currents, and is retarded thereby and held in contact with the iiues and shell for a greater length of time, thus cooling them and causing unequal contractiomwhich frequently y results in opening the joints and causing a .disagreeable cracking or pounding noise. The

steam by being first discharged upon top of the shell D heats the water inv the upper part to a slightly higher degree of temperature than that in the lower part, thereby causing the water to constantly ,circulate in the shell and renders its absorption of heat more rapid.

Another important element in the production of the circulation of the water in the shell is the absence ofthe fines E2 in the space g, as the water in this space remains comparatively undisturbed, `while the water surrounding the tubes E2 is keptin a constant commotion by the radiation of the heat therefrom. This action causes the watersurrounding the tubes EZ to be arranged into upward currents,which iiow over and down into the undisturbed space g, and ot' course cause the water from this space to iiow down ward and over and upward among the tubes E2, thus causing a complete circulation. VVhle passing down through the space g, the water being in less rapid commotion and moving more slowly than when passing upward on the other side, the foreign matter contained in it has an opportunityto become separated therefrom. the heavier mineral and similar substances falling to the bottom of the space g will be drawn ott' at suitable intervals by a pipe, K, while the lighter vegetable and animal matter rising to the top will be dlawn off through the tubes G and m. The shell D will be large enough to supply the boiler with which it is connected long enough to permit the water to be held in the shell until it. is .l

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alsohold the water in the heater long enough' to be purified. The impurities ordinarily found in the Water-supply of Yboilers separate therefrom at about the boiling-point, or at a temperature of 212o Fahrenheit; hence by heating the feed-water to that'degree the impurities will usually be separated therefrom, the heavier particles falling to the bottom and the lighter substances rising to the surface. Thus vthe water a short distance down from the top is more nearly free from impurities than the remainder, which is the reason why the delivery-pipe F2 is arranged to take the water for the boiler from this point, thus feed ing purified water only to the boiler, and preventing the accumulation of scale therein.

Another advantage gained by taking the water from near the top ofthe shell D is that the boiler is thereby fed with the hottest water in the shell, and any loss which would result from the, necessity of reheating in the boiler is saved. i

Another important feature of this invention is the presence of the tube H with the feedpipe F leading down into it, as the cold water is thus kept separated from the mass of the water until it is heated to a temperature nearly as great as the remainder of the water before it mingles with it. Thus none of the cold water cornes in contact with the tlues. After being thus heated the water ows outward from the tube H and mingles with the downward currents in the space g, and does not create a disturbance therein. The water is confined in the tube H until nearly all the agitation caused by the inowing water has ceased and the water formed into downward currents, which mingle with the downward currents in the space g and prevent any commotion or interference with the natural course of the water, as before described. Thus the impulse of the feed-water is downward and runs into a downward current, which is a very desirable result.

I claim as my inventionl. A heater-shell provided with fines open at both ends and extending therethrough from end to end, and water feed and discharge pipes communicating with said shell, in combination with a casing or jacket inclosing said shell, and of a greater length than said shell, whereby chambers are formed above and below said shell, a steam-inlet pipe which enters the bottom of said jacket, a tlue or tlues within the jacket which convey the steam from said inlet-pipe to the chamber above the heatershell, and a steam-exhaust port leading from the chamber below the heatershelhsubstantially as set forth.

2. A heater-shell, and a steam jacket or casing inclosing thesame, in combination with steam inlet and discharge pipes which communicate with the interior of the casing or jacket through the bottom thereof, and water feed and discharge pipes which pass through the top of the casing orjacket and communicate with the heater-shell through the top thereof, substantially as set forth.`

8. A heater-shell provided with flues open at both ends, and extending therethrough from end to end, and a casing or jacket inclosing said shell, of a length greater than said shell, whereby chambers are formed above and below said shell, in combination with water feed and discharge pipes which pass through the top of the casing and communicate with the heater-shell through the top thereof, a steam-inlet pipe which enters the bottom of said jacket, a iiue or flues within the jacket which convey thesteain from the inlet-pipe to the chamber above the heater-shell, and a steam-exhaust port leading from the the cham ber below the heater-shell, substantially as set forth.

4t. In a feed-water heater, a heater-shell formed with a large central flue, and with smaller side fluesbetween said central iiue and the periphery of the shell,said tlues being open at both ends and extending through said shell from end to end, and feed and discharge waterpipes communicating with said shell, in combination with a casing orjacket inclosing said shell, of a length greater than said shell, whereby chambers are formed above and below said shell, a steam-admitting pipe which enters the bottom of said easing and conveys the steam to said central iiue, and a steamdischarge pipe at the bottom of said casing, whereby the current of steam is upward through said central flue and downward through said side iiues, substantially as set forth.

5. In a feed-water heater, a heatershell formed with a large central iiue, and with smaller side flues between said central flue and the periphery ofthe shell, said ilues being open at both ends and extending through said shell from end to end, and feed and discharge water pipes communicating with said shell, in combination with a casing or jacket inclosing said shell, of a length greater than said shell, whereby chambers are`formed above and below said shell, and of a greater diameter than said shell, whereby an open space is left between the sides of said shell and casing, a steam-admitting pipe which enters the bottom of said casing and conveys the steam to said central flue, anda steam-discharge pipe at the bottom of said casing, whereby the current of steam is upward through said central iiue and downward through saidside flues and the space between the sides of the casing and shell, substantially as set forth.

6. In a feed-water heater, a heater-shell, in combination with a water-discharge pipe which passes through the upper end orhead of said shell, and which extends into said shell, and has its opening at a point below the surface of the water in the shell and away from the sides of the shell, substantially as set forth.

7. In a feed-water heater, a heater-shell, in combination with water feed and discharge pipes which pass through the upper end or head of said shell, and which extend into said shell, and have their openings at points below the surface of the water in the shell and away from the sides thereof, substantially as set forth.

8. In a feed-water heater, a heater-shell, in combination with a large tube suspended therein, and a feed-water pipe which enters said heater-shell and extends into said tube, whereby the cold water is admitted into said tube, substantially as set forth.

9. In a feed-water heater, a heater-shell, D', having tlues through a portion only of its interior, whereby an open space, g, is left therein, water-feed pipe F, tube H, and discharge-pipe Fl, substantially as set forth.

10. In a feedwaterheater, the combination of jacket A, head A2, shell D, having tlues E E2, tube G, connecting said jacket with the outer air, and feed-water pipe F, passing down through said tube G into said shell, sub- Stantiall y as set forth.

ICO

11. Inafeed-waterheater,abasehavingone 'in one piece therewith, pipes B Bpaeking 1o of the legs cast in a single piece therewith, a', and legs A5, substantially as set forth. and with a passage extending from the np- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set per surface of said base outward through said my hand` in the presence of two subscribing 5 leg, which passage constitutes the steam-dis witnesses.

charge passage, substantially as set forth. CHAS. H; ROBINSON.

12. lThe combination of a jacket, A', head Witnesses: A2, heater D', having fines E E2, base A, ROBT. B. WHITAORE,

having leg A4, and discharge opening C, cast WVM. G. Ross. 

